Jaymi's Notes: Though this recipe has three parts -- the dressing, the lentils and the roasted veggies -- it falls together quickly and easily. Because I'm only cooking for two, I cut the recipe in half... well, almost. Asparagus is just coming into season and I wanted to use that, but I also had a carrot left over from the lentil tomato soup recipe and wanted to add it in as well. So I used both veggies plus the shallots for an extra roasted veggie kick. I also used three lemons in the dressing because we love lemon around here.

Even though I halved the recipe, it still made enough for two for dinner, plus two servings leftover for tomorrow's lunch. You just can't go wrong with delicious roasted veggies mixed with hearty lentils and a zesty, herbed dressing. Fantastic!

Kelly's Recipe:We seemed to have settled into a more seasonal weather pattern now, but for a while there it was feeling pretty summery. I had started thinking about things to be served at room temperature or just warmed, and came up with this recipe for lentil salad. I was happy because I had everything included in the list of ingredients, so making it wouldn't require a trip to the store. Then I discovered that I had actually used all of the carrots I had, thinking there was still another bunch there. I did have a red pepper, though, so I roasted that instead.

You could use any roasted vegetable you like in this recipe, and it would still be delicious. Roasted cauliflower, broccoli, red peppers, kale, even little new potatoes would all work perfectly well. If you are lucky enough to have asparagus now, use that. This makes a lot, so it would be a great dish for a casual brunch or light dinner with friends, or if you are making it for two people, you could cut the recipe in half.

1. To make the vinaigrette, in a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, rosemary, and 1 teaspoon salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly until emulsified. Let stand at room temperature while you make the salad.

2. Preheat the oven to 425F. Add the carrots and shallots to a baking dish and drizzle with the olive oil, and toss to coat. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a grinding of pepper. Spread out into a single layer.

4. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the lentils, bay leaf, garlic, and 4 cups of water and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook at a gentle simmer until the lentils are almost tender, but still slightly undercooked, 12-15 minutes. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, recover and cook until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape, about 10 minutes longer. Drain the lentils in a colander placed in the sink. Discard the bay leaf and the garlic.